Jumbo collaboration

TEMPTED by projections that the number of air passengers will double in the next 10 years, but daunted by the US $10 billion price tag of a super jumbo jet with a carrying capacity of 800 passengers, Boeing of USA is negotiating collaboration with Europe's Airbus Industrie consortium. Boeing's latest jumbo, the 747-400, can carry only 450 passengers.

More snow cover means less rain

MONSOON modeller A D Vernekar and his colleagues at the University of Maryland have worked out how the snow cover in Europe and Asia, especially in the Tibetan plateau, affects the Indian monsoon.

European bird pioneers new route

BIRD MIGRATION patterns can change dramatically over decades and scientists say global warming can increase the incidence of such changes. Drastic changes in climate and landscape during the ice ages led to many birds altering their migratory routes. Such changes occur at present as well, but too gradually to be noticeable. Scientists now report the blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) has made a major change in its migration route in just 30 years (Nature, Vol 360 No 6405).

Account approved

A US $700 million "nuclear safety account" to reduce the risk of accidents in east Europe - agreed in principle last July - has finally been approved by specialists from the Group of Seven industrialised nations. At least 32 reactors are deemed sufficiently safe for upgrading; 26 are excluded as "inherently unstable".

Burmese teak profitable for Indian traders

PRESSING need for foreign exchange is pushing the country on to the international timber trail. Though the ministry of environment and forests (MEF) chooses to be tight-lipped, official sources admit timber exports have been given a green signal. To begin with, timber traders will be allowed to re-export teak wood bought cheaply in Burma.

Condoms for women

A NEW CONDOM for women that gives them greater sexual freedom has been approved for sale in some European countries (Outlook Vol 10, No 2). The condom consists of a loose-fitting, polyurethane sheath with flexible rings at both ends. The smaller ring at the closed end is inserted into the vagina and placed at the cervix, while a larger ring at the open end secures the device outside. The condom is lubricated with silicone and can be used just once.

Revitalised role forecast for people's movements

1992 has been a watershed year. Trends that were visible over the last few years came to a head, both globally and locally. At the global level, the events that preceded the Rio summit and took place at the meet were fascinating proofs that micro movements at the community, state, or even country levels, had few links with the debates, planning and policy formulation that are going on at the macro level.

Green politics must be pragmatic to succeed

What is the significant insight that you have gleaned over your years in environmental politics? We've realised the circle of dependency that exists between the government -- with its five-year cycle of being in power -- and industry -- with its 20-30 year cycle of investment planning. Industrialised countries depend on the big planetary degrading activities such as construction for about 75 per cent of their GNP. Interviewee:  Sara Parkin

The Future is Now

• 1992 was the year of environment. More than 100 heads of state and government gathered at Rio to discuss the health of the planet. But the conference refusea to look at underlying issues -lack of global democracy at one level and local democracy on the other -that favour exploitative forces.

Europe gives elee ronies industry a reprieve

WHILE Europe continues its efforts ID reduce electromagnetic pollution, dw European Commission (EC) has gritated a four-year reprieve to mWons exporting electronic equipMonts. The Commission recently wowded the deadline for imposing %@&restrictions against import of shm2rouic goods that do not adhere to standards for electromag interference or pollution (EMI) md electromagnetic compatibility MINIQ fill 1996. However, the Indian electronics industry still fears it will lose export